The Life Sciences team advised Dren Bio in a definitive agreement with Sanofi under which Sanofi has agreed to acquire DR-0201, a targeted bispecific myeloid cell engager (MCE) that has shown robust B-cell depletion in pre-clinical and early clinical studies. DR-0201 is a potential first-in-class CD20-directed bispecific antibody that targets and engages specific tissue-resident and trafficking myeloid cells to induce deep B-cell depletion via targeted phagocytosis.
Under the terms of the merger agreement, Sanofi will acquire DR-0201 through the acquisition of the Dren Bio affiliate Dren-0201 for an upfront payment of $600 million and potential future payments totaling $1.3 billion upon achievement of certain development and launch milestones. Sanofi’s acquisition of Dren-0201 is subject to closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals. The companies expect the transaction to close during Q2 2025.
Dren Bio is a privately held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering the discovery and development of novel first-in-class antibody therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune, and other serious diseases. Dren Bio’s lead product candidate, DR-01, is currently being evaluated in oncology and autoimmune indications. In addition, Dren Bio’s targeted myeloid engager and phagocytosis platform is a bispecific antibody-based technology that induces potent depletion of disease-causing agents by engaging a novel phagocytic receptor that is selectively expressed on myeloid cells and activated only in the presence of the target antigen.
The Goodwin team was led by Erini Svokos, Yasin Akbari and Bill Collins and included Sarah Stoiber, Alexandra Haas, Katerina Stavrianidis and John Yates, (Licensing), Kimberley Maruncic, Joseph Yim, Evan De Ycaza and Lauren Kidd (Corporate), Connor Hannagan and Cusaj Thomas (Corporate Restructuring), Dan Karelitz and Tyler Mayo (Tax), Paul Jin and Elliot Silver (Antitrust), Grace Wirth, Regina Couto and Seth Manilove (ECB), Susan Lee (FDA), Matt Wetzel (Healthcare), Tim Holahan and Ashton Lee O’Halloran (L&E), Justin Pierce and Gozde Guckaya (CFIUS), Jackie Klosek (Privacy), Katherine Murphy (REI), Brian Mukherjee (Insurance), with invaluable assistance from Stuart Cable, Emily Beman, Nick Allison, Charlie Davis, Angela Eunkyung, Sarah Hamad, Samantha Mita, Krisn Modi, Reema Moussa, Nikol Nerhan, Ogechika Oselukwue, Nikhil Shiva, Sofia Wyman, Aiste Zalepuga, Arom Yun, Scott Zilora, Sam Albanese and Aniko Bouley.
For more information on the deal, please read the press release and coverage in Endpoints News, FierceBiotech, and Bloomberg.